Sand dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan have been a traditional source of high-quality sand that automakers have used in molding parts such as engine blocks and cylinder heads. But the dunes – some hundreds of feet high – also have unique ecological, geological, cultural and recreational value.
Concerned about the practice, Ford worked with Michigan State University scientists and the Alliance for the Great Lakes to study the feasibility of halting coastal sand dune mining. The study concluded that other, inland sources of high-quality sand are available to meet the industry's needs. Ford has stopped using coastal dune sand, ahead of other automakers. The only supplier to Ford's two North American casting foundries – in Cleveland and Windsor, Ontario – is an inland mine.
